2012 NFL Mock Draft: Serious Decisions Every Team Must Make

In the 2012 NFL Draft, there will be easy decisions for teams to make and then there will be the ones that seem impossible to make.

Such decisions make me happy I'm not an NFL GM.

The draft can be a crap-shoot, and this one will be no different. Here's a look at who each team will be drafting and a breakdown of the riskier picks in the first round.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck ,QB, Stanford

This one is a no-brainer. Luck is a franchise quarterback who will keep the Colts competitive for the next 10-15 years and is the perfect heir-apparent to Peyton Manning.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

This is the second no-brainer pick in this draft. The Redskins desperately need a quarterback and have for some time. RG3 is the second-best quarterback in the draft so naturally, this makes sense.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC (Serious decision)

This pick seemed like an easy one for several months, but now the Vikings might not be entirely sold on taking Kalil with their No. 3 pick.

Word is, at least based on what some scouts are saying, Kalil might have a little bit of an attitude problem.

Other speculation has Kalil's weight and style of blocking being a problem also. All of these things will make it a tough decision for Minnesota who holds such a valuable pick.

If they don't draft Kalil, they will almost certainly trade down to increase the amount of picks they have and help fill the several voids they have on their team.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is going to be a star and a stud running back in the NFL one day. He will make an immediate impact on the Browns' horrid rushing attack and makes all the sense in the world to take with the No. 4 pick.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Bucs need an upgrade to their secondary and with the NFL being a pass-first league, Claiborne will help solve the problems in Tampa's secondary for years to come.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

St. Louis needs help at wide receiver for their young franchise quarterback, Sam Bradford. Blackmon is the best in the draft at that position so this is a perfect fit for the Rams.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Jags need a pass-rusher and a wide receiver. Considering the depth at receiver in this draft, a defensive end like Ingram makes all the sense with this pick.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M (Serious decision)

This will be the riskiest pick of the entire first round.

Tannehill was a solid college quarterback with a small sample size. He also spent time as a wide receiver, so the versatility and fall-back option is available for Tannehill.

However, the Dolphins need a quarterback who will take snaps for the next 10-15 years and will take a chance on Tannehill being that guy. But, as compared to the first two quarterbacks in this draft, Tannehill is worlds behind in the talent department.

I personally think this will be another disappointing quarterback for Miami when it's all said and done. I highly doubt Tannehill is of the franchise variety, but we'll just have to wait and see.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Carolina has few problems on the offensive side of the ball but desperately need help defensively to complement an offense run by explosive quarterback Cam Newton.

Cox gives the Panthers the anchor they need to make themselves respectable defensively.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Mario Williams was the major signing for Buffalo in the offseason, so chances are they will focus on their offense.

Reiff will be the perfect fit to help protect newly extended quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for years to come.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

You can score all the points you want, but the Chiefs know that means nothing if you can't make some stops.

Luke Kuechly will fit nicely at linebacker for a team looking to beef up their defense for next season.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Seattle could use a quarterback here, but with nobody of sufficient value, they will look to the defensive side.

Coples will be the most versatile option on the board and would fit nicely into the Seahawks' defensive line as a top-flight run stopper.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Cardinals have a desperate need for an offensive lineman after the beating Kevin Kolb took last season.

That being said, taking DeCastro might be a little premature, but it's certainly the right fit for Arizona.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

With the departure of Terrence Newman, the Cowboys will be looking to beef up their secondary and with the addition of Brandon Carr, Barron becomes the logical choice to fill the void at safety.

With Carr and Barron, the Cowboys could be looking at a dominant secondary for years to come.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Philly is pretty much set in most areas of their team, and adding a defensive lineman like Poe would add some depth to their defense.

While his stock has soared, Poe's on-the-field play in college wasn't all that impressive, so middle first-round seems about right and not in the top 10 like some have predicted.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

Another one of Nick Saban's defensive beasts, Upshaw would be the perfect fit for New York.

In desperate need of a pass rusher, the Jets will get all they need out of Upshaw and then some. Not to mention how well he fits with Rex Ryan's defense.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

Andy Dalton had a stellar rookie season, but if the Bengals want that to continue, this kid will need some protection.

The addition of Glenn would give the Bengals that long-term help and could vastly improve their running game as well.

18. San Diego Chargers: Chandler Jones, LB/DE, Syracuse

With the Chargers needs on defense abundantly clear, Chandler Jones seems like the right fit for San Diego.

Jones is versatile with the ability to play linebacker or defensive end. The Chargers will have multiple options where to put Jones and that makes him a safer bet than most as far as getting value is concerned.

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Julius Peppers is one of the better defensive lineman in football, but unfortunately for the Bears, he doesn't have much help alongside him.

Mercilus gives the Bears just what they need: a pass rusher who can take advantage of the double-teams that Peppers often commands.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama (Serious decision)

Kirkpatrick has seen his draft stock steadily decline over the recent months and instead of being a must-have player, he is now a late first-rounder.

With Stephon Gilmore still left on the board, taking Kirkpatrick over him would be a risky move. That is unless you don't put much stock into off-the-field issues.

Still, Kirkpatrick was a cornerback on a national championship team and has plenty of potential there. However, sometimes potential simply isn't enough.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Bengals will be thankful the Titans made it easy for them by taking Kirkpatrick before they had to make such a tough decision between him and Gilmore.

22. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Browns' fans will be thanking their lucky stars the day their team lands both Richardson and stud wide receiver, Michael Floyd.

Two dangerous offensive weapons for Colt McCoy or whoever is behind center for Cleveland.

23. Detroit Lions: Josh Martin, OT, Stanford.

Draft stock is a fickle thing and Martin knows this. Instead of being more valued as a near top-pick, he's fallen to No. 23 and right into the hands of the thankful Lions.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Who better than the Steelers to groom a talented young linebacker looking to break into the NFL? This one would be a steal.

25. Denver Broncos: Cody Fleener, TE, Stanford

Easy one for the Broncos. They're looking for skill to put around Peyton Manning, and Fleener is just the medicine.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

I'm sure Wright will have a ton of pressure on him with Andre Johnson lining up across the field. Kidding, of course, but this is the perfect fit for the Texans as a second option to an elite wide receiver.

27. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, LB, Boise State

The Pats could sorely use some help on defense after posting some of the worst stats in the NFL last season. McClellin has steadily improved his stock and will hit his peak as No. 27 overall to the AFC champs.

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, OLB, USC

Like the Pats, the Packers have a desperate need for some help on defense and rushing the passer. Perry gives them a developing, but potential long-term solution for that.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Nothing is more important than keeping Joe Flacco's facial hair neat and clean, so naturally the best center prospect in the draft makes sense and that's Konz.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama

Jenkins won't need to do much in his first season upon joining an elite NFL defense. That's a perfect situation for a young corner to get his feet wet with a whole lot of guidance in the process.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

This pick makes sense based on the Pats' defensive needs at the moment. This will be the second defensive pick of their first round and a job well done.

32. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Eli Manning is a great quarterback and there's no debating that. You could debate how good his offensive line is, though, and that's why Adams fits nicely here.